The entire NCM team were hugely saddened to learn of the passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. The picture below was taken from my desk on Friday which was a grey day in lots of ways as a lady who had been devoted to the service of our country was no longer with us after a reign of 70 years. She never let her people down or failed to provide words of strength and fortitude.
Today the sun is shining as she lays in rest at Holyrood Palace a few miles away and, this evening the people of Scotland will be able to pay their formal respects to her in St Giles Cathedral after lining the roads, fields and bridges for 175 miles yesterday as she passed on her final journey. I feel honoured that we have been able to give her a true Scottish send off with even our typically varied weather playing its part.
We extend our condolences to King Charles III and the rest of the Royal family at this sad time. May she rest in peace.
Kathleen McLeay, NCM Chief Executive